Window washer



Oct. 31, 1933. A. R. FLETCHER WINDOW WASHER Filed Jan. 24

Patented Oct. 31, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1,933,168 WINDOW WASHER Almer Roy Fletcher, Alhambra, Calif.

Application January 24, 1933. Serial N0. 653,333 3 Claims. (or I126) This invention relates to window washers and has for its object the provision of a comparatively simple and inexpensive device of this character by means of which windows and other glass 5 surfaces may be expeditiously cleaned and polished with very littleexertion on the part of the operator.

A further object of the invention is to pro vide a window washer in which the water or other cleaning fluid is stored in a reservoir and automaticallyfed to the cleaning element. by capillary attraction, thus dispensing with the usual water pail and cleaning rag or sponge generally employed for this purpose.

A further object is to provide a fountain window washer including a cleaning element and a drying and polishing element arranged on opposite sides of a water receiving head so that by reversing the position of the head either element may be presented to the surface to be cleaned. I

A further object is to provide novel means for retaining the cleaning element in proper position on the head and means for feeding water to the central longitudinal plane of the cleaning element so that said element will be uniformly saturated. a

A still further object of the invention is generally to improve this class of devices so as to increase their utility, durability and (efficiency.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of the specification:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a fountain window washer constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevation partly in section.

Figure 3 is a detail longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawing.

The improved window washer forming the subject matter of the present invention comprises an elongated head 5 preferably formed of metal and having a flat upper surface or top 6 and converging side walls 7 and 8 connected at the small or tapered end of the head by a bottom 8'. The head 5 constitutes a reservoir for the reception of water or other cleaning fluid 9 and in order to introduce the cleaning fluid within the reservoir the bottom thereof is provided with an orifice 10 surrounded by an annular extension 11 terminating in an externally threaded nipple 12. Detachably secured to the nipple 12 is a ferrule 13 adapted to receive the adjacent end of a supporting handle 14. Seated in the upper end of the ferrule 13 and rigidly secured thereto is asocket 15 having internal threads 16 corre- ;tom 17 of the socket will form a closure for the adjacent end ,ofthe nipple and thus confine the water within the reservoir.

Secured to the top 6 and the converging side wall 8 of the head are retaining elements also preferably formed ofjinetal andeach including a longitudinal abutment .18 terminating in an overhanging flange 19, the end of which is bent upon itself to form a bead20 adapted to bear against a cleaning element, indicated at 21. The cleaning element 21.1nay'be'formed of felt or other suitable material andis' adapted to bear against a window pane 22 or other surface to be cleaned when the device is positioned thereagainst as clearly illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawing; The opposite endsof the cleaning element 21 bear against the abutments 18 and are firmly secured against the adjacent wall .80 of the head by the overhanging flanges 19, the intermediate portion of the cleaning element I being preferably bowed laterally at 23 to form an intermediate pocket adapted to receive the Water or other cleaning fluid from the reservoir. The cleaning element 21 preferably extends the entire length of the head and the ends of the cleaning element preferably project slightly beyond the ends of the head, as indicated at 24, so as to form a cushion and prevent scratching or marring the glass or other surface. Disposed at the intersection or junction of the top 6 and the converging wall 8 of the head is a longitudinal slot or outlet opening 25 through which the water passes from the reservoir to the central longitudinal plane of the cleaning element and is fed by capillary attraction throughout its entire mass so that the cleaning element is thoroughly saturated at all times. The pocket 23 extends the entire length of the head but the slot or outlet opening 25 preferably terminates short'of the opposite ends of e the head, as best shown in Figure 2 of the drawing. The metal constituting the head at the intersection of the top 6 and side wall 8 is preferably bent or curled upon itself to produce longitudinal beads 26 which not only serve to reinforce and strengthen the walls of the slot 25 but also present smooth edges to the felt 110 v wardly, as indicated at 29, so as to impinge against the rubber strip 2'7 and prevent accidental displacement thereof. The walls of the socket 28 are also preferably curled or bent inwardly, as indicated at 30, so as not to tear or cut the rubber strip as the latter is flexed in the act of drying a window pane. ber strip 2'7 may be of any desired length but it is preferred to extend the ends thereof beyond the adjacent ends of the head 5 to prevent the adjacent portions of the head'coming in con tact with and marring highly polished surfaces. In use, the reservoir of the device is first filled with water or other cleaning fluid and the device supported'against' a windowpane in the manner shown in Figure 1 of the draw-' ing. The head is then" reciprocated over the surface of theglass and during the reciprocation thereof the water in the reservoir will flow through the slot or outlet opening into the pocket 23 of the cleaning element and will be uniformly distributed throughout the entire mass constitutingthe cleaning element by capillary attraction, as previously stated. After the pane of glass has been thoroughly cleaned the position of the head is-m'versed so as to bring the rubber strip 27 against the surface of the glass and the head again reciproeated, thereby causing the rubber strip to impinge against the surface of the glass and efiectually remove any excess moisture therefrom} It 'will, of course,

The rub-' be understood that the window washers may be made in different sizes and shapes and the capacity of the-liquid reservoir may be varied without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

1. A window washer including a liquid containing head having converging side walls, and a longitudinal slot at the intersection of two of its walls, retaining members secured to the top of the head and one of the side Walls there- 'of and provided with overhanging flanges, and a cleaning element having its opposite ends bearing against the head beneath the overhanging flanges and its intermediate portion bowed laterally to form a longitudinal pocket spaced from the slot.

2. A window washer including a tapered liquid receiving head having an opening in the bottom thereof, a dreaded nipple surrounding said opening, a handle receiving ferrule, a threaded socket? fitted inthe ferrule and engaging the nipple, sa-idsocket having its bottom closed and constituting a closure for the opening in the head, there being a longitudinal slot formed in the head at the intersection of two of its walls, a substantially V-shaped cleaning element having its apex fitted over the head at said slot,

and retaining elements carried by the head and ALMER ROY FLETCHER. [L. S.] 

